Automatic rotational sprayer



Sept. 15, 1959 w. J. s. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC ROTAT'IONAL SPRAYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 24, 1958 N .0 mw m y E J a I. W m m .d I a J 4 w Y a f M B a a l/ .J rm n Va F w, a z L \Q 4 IV V y n EEK v 5 I z w 4/ I Z Z W 4,.

p 5, 1959 w. J. 5. JOHNSON 2,904,261

AUTOMATIC RQTATIONAL SPRAYER Filed Feb. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [dama- J. 5. JOHNiQN BY WWW AUTGMATIC ROTATIONAL SPRAYER Wallace J. S. Johnson, Berkeley, Calif.

Application February 24, 1958, Serial No. 717,212

13 Claims. (Cl. 239230) nozzle, and means for varying the amount of upward.

inclination of the discharge end of said passage and for simultaneously varying the size ofthe passage in direct.

relation to the amount of upward inclination thereof.

A further object is to provide a rotary sprayer for spraying a non-circular area, having a nozzle designed so that as the water is, thrown at the furthest distance from the sprayer the volume of flow through the nozzle will be greatest, and so that as the water is thrown at a lesser distance the volume of flow will be less, in order that the amount of water received per square foot will be uniform reg-ardlessof the distance from the sprayer.

Another object is to provide a sprayer as set forth above with resilient nozzles and with means to simultaneously deflect the nozzle downwardly and to squeeze the nozzle to restrict the flow therethrough.

Yet another object is to provide a nozzle for a sprayer as set forth above in which the nozzle is a resilient tube with an oblate rectangular orifice and in which the discharge force of the nozzle is inclined to the axis of the nozzle.

A further object is to provide a rotational sprayer comprising a base member, a conduit mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of said base member, said conduit having first and second upwardly inclined branches spaced rotationally about said vertical axis, first and second flexible nozzles respectively mounted at the upper ends of said branches, said nozzles each having an upwardly in- 2,904,261 Patented Sept. 15, 1959 issuing from said nozzles-will impinge upon said first and.

third vanes and be deflected. towards said second and fourth vanes to impinge thereagainst to forcesaid. rigidmember away from said stop member, and wherein said firstand'third vanes are inclinedly disposed relative-.to said nozzles so that as said-nozzles are upwardly and downwardly inclined a constant volumeof flow from said nozzles will be intercepted by said first and thirdvanes.

Another object of'the invention is to provide a rotational sprayer adapted to spraya square area withuniform precipitation and having two resilient nozzles in which the nozzles are so spaced around the vertical axis of the device as to balance the hydraulieandsmechanical forces involved andto allow a uniform rate of rotation of the device as a result of a uniform recurrent rotationalforce.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in thecourse ofthefollowing detailed description.

. In the drawings, forming a portion of this application, and in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sprayer constructed in accord: ance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, taken on line 2-2 .of Fig. l. V v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, illustrating the impingement of water on the vanes of the oscillator. v V

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, taken on line 4'4'of Fig. .2, with the discharge flow ofwater at maximum and minimum rates being shown in dotted lines, to illustrate the manner in which the vanes of the oscillator act to give a uniform rate of advance to the sprayer.

Fig. 5 is asectional'view, taken on line 5-5 ofFig; 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail, showing the nozzle in alternate positions.

Referring now to the drawings, the sprayer, indicated generally by the numeral 10, comprises a tubular base member lladapted to'be connected to an irrigating standclined passage therethrough, a cam member mounted on said base member, a first lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said first nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member, and a second lever 'mounted on said conduit with one endthereof in engagement with the upper surface of said second nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member at a point thereon spaced rotationally from said other end of said first'lever, the engagement of said cam member and said levers at predetermined rotational positions of said conduit relative to saidbase member causing the upper ends of said levers to press downwardly on said nozzles to simultaneously decrease the upward inclinations and crosssectional areas of'said nozzle passages;

Still another object is to provide a means to rotate'a sprayer as set forth in the last object wherein said rotating means comprises a rigid member pivotally' mounted on said'conduit, a stop member fixed'to said conduit, a'spring biasing said rigid member intoengagement with said stop member, first and second vanes carried'by said rigid mempipe 12 or the like. A rigid'conduit 13, having two upwardly inclined tubular branches 14 and 14a, is disposed within the base member 11 so that the conduit and branches may rotate about the-vertical axis o f'the" base member. As may be seen in Fig. 1, the two branches 14 and 14a are spaced at 135 around the vertical axis of base member 11. A combined water seal and bearing 16 is provided between theconduit and base member.

A resilientnozzle 17; inserted'in the upper end'of conduit branch 14, has afiowpassage'13 therethrough;'terminating at the discharge-face 19 ofthe'nozzle. Asseen in'Fig. 3, the nozzle has integral retainer lugs 20 receivable within complementary holes-in the branch 14*to hold the nozzle in place. Similarly, an-identic-al'nozzle l7izis insertedin conduitbranch 14a.

A lever, or bracket, 21 is pivotally mounted at 22 to the conduit, for rotation with: the conduit about the vertical axis of. the base member. The upper end 23 of lever 21 isbent around-the discharge end of nozzle 17 5 so as to bear downwardly onthe upper surface of'the'nozzle. Acam follower 24, mounted on the lower end ofleverZl; is in engagement with the cam track 26 of cam member 27 Cam member 27; mounted on base member 11; is fixed against movement relative thereto by any suitablemeans (not shown). As' seen in Fig." 1, the cam track 26-has four lobes 28,-e'ach' lobe beingangularly spaced at from the other lobes around the vertical axis of'the'ba'se member.

A lever 21a, identical to lever 21, is pivotally mounted at 22a on the conduit, with the upper end 23a of the lever bearing downwardly on the upper surface of nozzle 17a. A cam follower 24a, mounted on the lower end of the lever 21a, is in engagement with the cam track 26 at a point thereon spaced 135 from cam follower 24.

As the conduit 13 rotates within the base member 11, the levers 21 and 21a carried by the conduit also rotate about the vertical axis of the base member, with their cam followers rolling against cam track 26. As the cam followers are forced inwardly, from the position shown at 24 to the position shown at 24a, the levers will be rotated so that the upper ends thereof will press downwardly on the upper surface of the resilient nozzles, to move these nozzles from the position shown at 17 to the position shown at 17a. When the cam followers move back into one of the cam lobes 28, the inherent resiliency of the nozzles and the force of the water passing therethrough will cause them to straighten out, back to the position as shown at 17.

Automatic rotation of the sprayer is provided by the rigid oscillating member 30, having two arms 31 and 31a, forming a horizontal angle of 135 so that each arm may simultaneously extend over one of the conduit branches 14 and 14a. The oscillating member is rotatably jour naled on shaft 32 carried by conduit 13 coaxial with the base member 11. An upstanding post 33, formed integrally with conduit 13, supports a bearing plate 34 in which the upper end of shaft 32 is received. A torsion spring 35, held at one end by the bearing plate 34 and at the other end by the oscillating member arm 31, urges the oscillating member 30 in a clockwise direction (looking downwardly) against the adjustable stop member 36 carried by post 33.

The oscillating member arm 31 has two vanes '37 and 38 mounted on the outer end thereof, to intercept the path of flow from nozzle 17, when the arm 31 is against the stop member.

As shown in Fig. 3, a certain amount of the water issuing from nozzle 17 strikes the inclined vane 37 and is deflected towards vane 38, which intercepts the water thus deflected. The water force has a greater effect on vane 38, and causes the oscillating member to swing in a counterclockwise direction against the bias of spring 35. The friction between conduit 13 and base member 11 is sufficiently great so that there is no movement therebetween as the oscillating member swings in the counterclockwise direction. After the oscillating member has come to a rest, the stored energy in spring 35 swings the oscillating member back in a clockwise direction, causing it to strike against the stop member 36 to jar conduit 13 forward in a clockwise direction. The jarring force is implemented by the impingement of water on vane 37 as the latter cuts back into the discharging stream.

Similarly, vanes 37a and 38a are mounted on arm 31a to accomplish the same function.

In operation, with the sprayer connected to a suitable water pipe 12, water will issue from nozzles 17 and 17a, and the oscillating member will cause the conduit 13 to rotate incrementally in a clockwise direction. The inherent resiliency of each nozzle, and the pressure of the water passing through the nozzles, cause each nozzle to straighten, thus insuring a positive engagement between the cam followers 24 and 24a and the cam track 26.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when the cam follower 24 is in engagement with one of the cam lobes 28, the nozzle 17 will have its maximum upward inclination, causing the water to be thrown a maximum distance. Also, at this time, the nozzle passage 18 will be unrestricted, allowing the maximum flow therethrough.

At the same moment, cam follower 24a will be halfway between cam lobes 28, causing the cam follower 24a to be forced inwardly to press lever 21a downwardly upon the top of nozzle 1711. This forces the discharge end of nozzle 17a downwardly, thereby limiting the dis- 4 tance that water is thrown therefrom. In addition, the squeezing of the nozzles restricts the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage 18a so that a lesser volume of flow of the water passes therethrough.

One important advantage of the squeezing of the nozzle as the nozzle is deflected is that it is possible to obtain a uniform precipitation over the area being sprayed. In a square area, for which this particular embodiment is designed, a sector area in the direction of one of the corners of the square will be much larger than a similar sector area of the same angle directed towards one of the sides of the square, and, consequently, will require more water. If the volume of flow of the water discharging from the nozzles were constant, the rate of rotation being constant, then the square area being watered would receive a much greater concentration of water per unit area in the direction towards the sides of the square than that received in the direction towards the corners. The present invention compensates for this by squeezing the nozzles when they are directed towards the sides of the square to constrict the discharge orifice in order that the volume flow of water is decreased at this time as compared to the maximum flow of water when the nozzles are directed towards the corners of the square. In this manner, the concentration of precipitation is constant throughout the sprayed area.

In the present embodiment, it has been found that by forming the discharge face 19 of the nozzle at approximately 70 from the axis of the nozzle, and by forming the discharge passage in the shape of an oblate rectangle, that the volume of the flow will vary in direct proportion to the variation in distance that the water is thrown. If these factors are varied, as well as varying the resiliency of the nozzle, the relation between the volume of flow and the distance thereon may be varied to meet any other desired characteristic.

As may be seen, the spacing of the nozzles is such that when the volume of flow is greatest from one nozzle, the volume of flow from the other nozzle is at a minimum, and thus, the total volume of flow through conduit 13 is essentially constant at all rotational positions thereof.

The amount of incremental angular rotative advance of the sprayer is relatively constant because the total volume of water acting upon the combined areas of vanes 38 and 38a is relatively constant. In addition, the force acting upon either arm of the oscillating member 30 to cause it to rotate counterclockwise is relatively constant, in spite of the variations in the volume of flow from the nozzle acting upon the oscillator vanes associated therewith.

As may best be seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the oscillator member vane 37 is inclinedly disposed relative to nozzle 17 so that the same volume of water is intercepted by vane 37 regardless of whether the volume of flow from the nozzle is at maximum or minimum. Because of this arrangement, the same volume of water acts upon vane 38 at all times, to cause the oscillator member to be rotated counterclockwise the same amount and to cause equal clockwise advances of the sprayer when the oscillator member swings back to strike against the stop member 36.

When the nozzle passage is unrestricted; i.e., at maximum throw, the volume of flow from the nozzle is at a maximum and follows flow path 40. As shown in Fig. 4, only the cross-sectional area of the flow path 40 indicated by cross-hatching is intercepted by vane 37 to be deflected towards vane 38, while the rest of the discharging water will bypass the oscillator vanes. At minimum flow, the volume rate of discharge of the water issuing from the nozzle will be less than above, and will be directed along flow path 40, due to the downward inclination of the nozzle end 19. However, it will be seen that the vane 37 is downwardly inclined so that substantially all of the flow path '40 is now intercepted, again as indicated by the cross-hatching of flow path 40* shown in Fig.- 4. This greater intercepted portion of thelesser volume at minimum flow is substantially equal to the lesser intercepted-portion of the greatervolume at maximum fiowso that in bothinstances the same volume of flow-is deflected-by vane- 37 towards'vane 38- to cause equal counterclockwise rotation of the oscillator member. Similarly, the'samevolume of flow is intercepted by vane 37 forany intermediateposition of nozzle 17. Stated in other terms, as the volume of flow decreases from maximum to minimum, a constant'volume of water is intercepted byvanes 3-7 and 38 while a decreasingamountof the water bypasses these vanes.

Another advantage'of-the present embo'diment'is that the forces between-the cam-followers and'cam are balanced, to insure a uniform rotation. Thus,- whenever'oneof the cam followers'isclimbing out of one of the cam lobes 28, which would tend to slow the rotation-of the device, the other'carn' followeris rolling into a cam lobe so as-to tendto' increase thespeed' of rotationof the sprayer; The combined etfects cancel, so thatthere is neither a tendency to progress'forwardly or backwardly at any rotational positionof' the sprayer; allowing the sole rotative force to be supplied by the uniformly swinging 'oscillator member.

Although the particular embodiment'has been designed for use'in spraying. a square area, it is to be realized that other non-circular areas'may be sprayed by using a different shaped cammember'27 in-accordance with the particular area to be sprayed.

It is to be further understood that-the embodimentof the invention herewith shown and described is but a single embodiment ofthe same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangementofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of'the invention, or the scope of i the attached claims;

Having thus described-my invention, what'I claim and desire to secure by 'Letters'Patent is:

1; A- rotational sprayer comprising a base member, a resilient'nozzlemounted on said base member for rotation'about' the vertical axis-of-said'base, said nozzle having an upwardly inclined'passagetherethrough terminating at the discharge end'of-said nozzle, and means operatively associated with the discharge end of said nozzle for varying" the amount of upward inclination of the discharge end of said passage relative to said base and for simultaneously varying the size of the passage in direct relation to the amount of upward inclination thereof as said'nozzle rotates about said base.

2; A rotational sprayer comprisinga base member, a resilient nozzle mounted on said base-member for rotation about the vertical axis of said base, said nozzle having-an upwardly inclined passage therethrough-terminating at the discharge end of said nozzle, and meansopera'tively associated with the discharge'end of said nozzle to press downwardly on the upper surface of the discharge end of said nozzle to simultaneously decrease the amount of upward inclination relative to said base and cross-sectional area of said discharge passage as said nozzle rotates about said base.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said nozzle is tubular in shape with the discharge end thereof inclined from the axis of said nozzle.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the nozzle passage is of an oblate rectangular cross section.

5. A rotational sprayer comprising a base member, a resilient nozzle mounted on said base member for rotation about the vertical axis of said base, said nozzle having an upwardly inclined passage therethrough terminating at the discharge end of said nozzle, means operatively associated with the discharge end of said nozzle to press downwardly on the upper surface of the discharge end of said nozzle to simultaneously decrease the amount of upward inclination relative to said base and cross-sectional area of said discharge passage, and cam means mounted on said base member and operatively associated with thelast named means to vary the amount of downward pressing on said nozzle assaid nozzle is rotated around said vertical axis.

6. A rotational sprayer'comprising a base member, ;a resilient nozzle mounted on said base member for rotationabout the vertical axis of said base, said nozzle having an upwardly inclined passage therethrough terminating at the discharge end of said nozzle, means operatively associated with the discharge end of said nozzle to press downwardly on the upper surface of the discharge end of said nozzle to simultaneously decrease the upward. inclination relative to said base and cross-sectional area of said discharge passage, cam means mounted on said base member and operatively associated with the last named means to vary the amount of downward pressing, of said nozzle as said nozzle is rotated'around said vertical axis, and means operatively. associated with said nozzle and actuable by-fiuid discharging from said nozzle for rotating said nozzle about the vertical axis of said base membet.

7. A rotational sprayer comprising a base member having a vertical axis, a rigid conduit mounted on the base member for rotation about said vertical axis, said conduit having an upper end inclined from horizontal, a resilient nozzle mounted at the end of said conduit, said nozzle having an upwardly inclined passage therethrough, a lever mounted on said conduit for rotation therewith, said lever having its upper end in engagement with said nozzle, and a cam member fixed relative to said base member, the other end of said lever being in engagement-with said cam member,- said cam and lever causing said flexible nozzle to be simultaneously deflected downwardly and squeezed at predetermined rotational positions 'of said conduit relative to said base member, whereby the volume of flow through'said nozzlewill be decreased upon downward deflection of said nozzle.

8. A rotational sprayer comprising a base member having a vertical axis, a conduit mounted on said base member for rotation about said vertical axis, said conduit having an upwardly inclined end, a' resilient nozzle mounted at-the end of said conduit and projecting out-. wardly therefrom, said nozzle having a passage therethrough, a lever mounted on said conduit for rotation therewith, said lever having its upper end in engagement with the upper surface of said nozzle, and a cam mem ber fixed relative to said base member, the other end of said'lever being in engagement with said cam member, the engagement of said cam member and lever causing the upper end of said lever to press downwardly onsaid nozzle to simultaneously decrease the upward inclination and cross-sectional area of said nozzle passage at predetermined rotational positions of said conduit relative to said base member.

9; A rotational sprayer comprising a base member, a conduit mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of said base member, said conduit having first and second upwardly inclined branches spaced rotationally about said vertical axis, first and second flexible nozzles respectively mounted at the upper ends of said branches, said nozzles each having an upwardly inclined passage therethrough, a cam member mounted on said base member, a first lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said first nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member, and a second lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said second nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member at a point thereon spaced rotationally from said other end of said first lever, the engagement of said cam member and said levers at predetermined rotational positions of said conduit relative to said base member causing the upper ends of said levers to press downwardly on said nozzles to simultaneously decrease the upward inclinations and cross-sectional areas of said nozzle passages.

10. A rotational sprayer comprising a base member, a conduit mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of said base member, said conduit having first and second upwardly inclined branches spaced rotationally about said vertical axis, first and second flexible nozzles respectively mounted at the upper ends of said branches, said nozzles each having a flow pasage therethrough, a cam member mounted on said base member, a first lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said first nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member, a second lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said second nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member at a point thereon rotationally spaced from said first lever, and means operatively associated with said conduit and actuated by fluid discharging from one of said nozzles to rotate said conduit incrementally around the vertical axis of said base member, the engagement of said cam member and said levers at predetermined rotational positions of said conduit relative to said base meniber causing the upper ends of said levers to press downwardly on said nozzles to simultaneously decrease the upward inclinations and cross-sectional areas of said nozzle passages.

11. In a device as set forth in claim 10, wherein said rotating means comprises a rigid member pivotally mounted on said conduit, a stop member fixed to said conduit, a spring biasing said rigid member into engagement with said stop member, first and second vanes carried by said rigid member to simultaneously intercept the path of discharge of said first nozzle, and third and fourth vanes carried by said rigid member to simultaneously intercept the path of discharge of said second nozzle, said vanes being inclined to said paths of discharge whereby fluid issuing from said nozzles will impinge upon said first and third vanes and be deflected towards said second and fourth vanes to impinge thereagainst to force said rigid member away from said stop member, and wherein said first and third vanes are inclinedly disposed relative to said nozzles so that as said nozzles are upwardly and downwardly inclined a constant volume of flow from said nozzles will be intercepted by said first and third vanes.

12. A rotational sprayer comprising a base member, a rigid conduit mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of said base member, said conduit having first and second upwardly inclined branches spaced rotationally at a 135 angle about said vertical axis, first and second flexible nozzles respectively mounted at the upper ends of said branches, said nozzles each having a passage therethrough, a four-lobed cam member mounted on said base member, said lobes being spaced 90 apart, a first lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said first nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member, and a second lever mounted on said conduit with one end thereof in engagement with the upper surface of said second nozzle and its other end in engagement with said cam member at a point thereon 135 from said first lever, the engagement of said cam member and said levers at predetermined rotational positions of said conduit relative to said base member causing the upper ends of said levers to press downwardly on said nozzles to simultaneously decrease the upward inclinations and cross-sectional areas of said nozzle passages.

13. A rotational sprayer comprising a base member having a vertical axis, a conduit mounted on said base member for rotation about the said vertical axis, said conduit having an upwardly inclined end, a resilient nozzle mounted at the end of said conduit and projecting outwardly :th'erefrom, said nozzle having an upwardly inclined passage therethrough, a lever mounted on said conduit for rotation therewith, said lever having its upper end in engagement with said nozzle, a cam member fixed relative to said base member, the other end of said lever being in engagement with said cam member, said cam member and lever causing said flexible nozzle to be simultaneously deflected downwardly and squeezed at predetermined rotational positions of said conduit relative to said base member, whereby the volume of flow through said nozzle will be decreased upon downward deflection of said nozzle, a rigid member pivotally mounted on said conduit, a stop member fixed to said conduit, a spring biasing said rigid member into engagement with said stop member, and first and second vanes carried by said rigid member to simultaneously intercept the path of discharge from said nozzle, said vanes being inclined to said path of discharge whereby fluid issuing from said nozzle will impinge upon said first vane and be deflected towards said second vane to impinge thereagainst to force said rigid member away from said stop member, and wherein said first vane is inclinedly disposed relative to said nozzle so that as said nozzle is upwardly and downwardly inclined a constant volume of flow from said nozzle will be intercepted by said first vane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,845 Melavin Mar. 12, 1901 1,938,838 Jacobson Dec. 12, 1933 2,300,679 Klein Nov. 3, 1942 2,345,813 Harriman Apr. 4, 1944 2,380,101 Englehart July 10, 1945 2,625,411 Unger Jan. 13, 1953 2,654,635 Lazzarini Oct. 6, 1953 2,778,681 Dudley Jan. 22, 1957 

